Pope Francis: Social media can threaten 'real-life relationships' and 'imprison people in a virtual reality'

The Pope has warned of the dangers of social media, saying it can end up “imprisoning people in a virtual reality”.

Pope Francis said social media poses a threat to “real life relationships” and while it can help building a network of friendships and solidarity, people should consider cutting down on technology and spending more time with each other.

Speaking to a gathering of more than 80,000 people at Dublin’s Croke Park on Saturday night, the Pope said it was important that social media “never becomes a threat to the real life relationships by imprisoning us in a virtual reality and isolating us from the very real relationships that challenge us to grow”.

Warning – the Pope warned about the dangers of social media during his speech at Dublin’s Croke Park (Picture: AP)

He added: “When you use social media too much you go into a sort of an orbit, when at the dinner table, instead of talking to each other within the family each of you uses his phone to connect with the outside world. Then you go into an orbit.”

The Pope warned that social media can take away “the completeness of the family” and lead individuals “to a fuzzy life without any substance”.